Belt conveyer



W. J. MANN BELT CONVEYER Aug. 14, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 9, 1955 Aug. 14, 1934. w. J. MANN 1,969,809

BELT CONVEYER Filed Feb. 9, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 2 Jrmentor v omegs Patented Aug. 14, 1934 BELT CONVEYER Walter Jacob Mann, Plainfield, N. J., assigner to General Conveyors Limited, Montreal, Canada., a corporation of Canada v f Application February 9, 1933,"Serial No. 655,891

- 28 Claims. (Cl. 198-160) This invention relates more particularly to improvements in a drag belt conveye r line of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Se-

rial No. 512,914, i'lled February 2, 193,1. In said conveyer line twin drag belts spaced apart transversely in the same plane and` running in the same direction cooperate to drag sheets, such as telegrams, for example, along the line.

-Each sheet is engaged by both belts, and a medial porbetween the A rib extending along the line andV proilex said meplane of the gainst trans- An important object'of the present invention is to provide satisfactory means for forming a bend in such a conveyer line, involving the line.

Other objects of the invention will inafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a section on the` line.

1 1 of Fig. 4, showing in top plan ay twisting of appear herethe structure forming the bend in the conveyor line;

Fig. 2 is a side View of a portion of said structure directly at the bend, looking in indicated by the arrow A in Fig.a1;

the direction v Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, the belt tracksk and the supporting structure bein show the training of the belts more Fig. 4 is a side view looking in indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 1;

g omitted .to

clearly; the direction Fig. 5 is a skeletonized perspective view of the belts and pulleys of the line.;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section approximately on the line `6--6 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. '7 is` a perspective view of a of the corner structure wherein the .belt .tracksV modification extend continuously around the corner, over: the

peripheries of the corner pulleys;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailsectio 8-8 of Fig. 7.

and

n on the line The sheet conveyor line includes a pair -of conveyer belts 1 and 2 trained to form a pair Vo1' companion conveyer reaches la and 2a arranged side by side along the line in transv relation and in substantiallythe sameplane.

ersely spaced These reaches are driven at the same speed and 0 in the same direction along the conveyer line.

Disposed against the conveyer faces of said reaches there is a shield 3 to hold sheets to the belts for drag conveyance. The shield forms a pair of tracks 4 along which the travel. .A conveyed sheet is dispose belt ,reaches d across both -juncture of the ascending length of the line with tracks 2, as indicated at vS in Fig..6, and engaged by both belts, and a medial portion of the sheet bridges 4 the space between the belts. Between the tracks there isa ridge 5 extending along. the line and projecting outward between the belts. This ridge serves .to flex said medial portiony of the sheet into a loop and thereby hold the sheet against. transverse displacement from beneath the belts. Preferably the-shield 3 is formed of sheet metal pressed outward to form said ridge. Along its longitudinal edges the shield has beads formedby longitudinally slotted tubing 6 into which the edges'of the shield are tted and secured.

In the present ,disclosure the conveyer line has .an ascending length and a. horizontal length continuous with the ascending length. Said hor zontal length comprises two continuous reaches disposed at a right angle to each and defining a bendA or corner in the line.' To form this bend there, is provided an arrangement of belt pulleys and of the shield 3 to form va substantially right angular twist in the line. It will be understood that the line may have additional lengths and that the angular relations of the different portions of the line may be varied. Y

At the lower end of the conveyer line the belts are trained arounda pair of Vcoaxiallyarranged pulleys 7of the same diameter. The latter are xed to a shaft 8 driven by a motor 9. yAt the soiv the horizontal length the belts are trained over a pair of pulleys 10 coaxially arranged and of the same diameter. At the discharge end of the line the belts are trained under pulleys 11 also coaxially arranged and of the same size. The return reaches of the belts are trained upward from the pulleys 11 over a pair of coaxially 'arranged .pulleys l2, thenback along the line around two pulleys 13 at the corner in the line and nally 9 over a pair of coaxially arranged pulleys 14 and downward to the pulleys '7. The axes of said successive pulleys 7,10, 11, 12 and 14 are in the' present instance, all horizontal while the corner pulleys 13 are arranged with their axes vertical to form a quartertwist inthe return reach of each belt. '.Said pulleys 13 are Vdisposed in proper belt receiving relation to the pulleys 12 and in proper belt .delivery relation to the pulleys 14. T o train the conveyer reaches 1a and 2a around the vcorner in the line there are pulleys at the corner and pulleys at the opposite sides of the corner cooperating to twist both beltV reaches and train their twisted lengths around the corner in proper relation to each other. At the corner twist the belts. Between the corner pulleys and.4

the pulleys 11 there is another set of pulleys to receive the belts from the corner pulleys and restore the belts to their original plane.' YThe,` rst set includes two coaxially arranged pulleys 18 and 19 disposed directly on the conveyer line.

In the present instance said two pulleys are of.

the saine diameter and their common axis is hori zontal and parallel to the axis of .'pulleyslO.' Spaced above the conveyer line in a position immediately over the pulley 19 is'a pulleyV 20 with its axis parallel to the axis of the pulleys 18 and 19. Spaced slightly in advance of the pulley 19 is a pulley 21 with its axis horizontal and canted slightly with respect tothe axis of pulley k19 to' disposey it -in proper belt-delivery relation tothe corner pulley16. H Y v The set of pulleys at the opposite side of the corner isv similarto the` set just-described. It includes pulleys 1323195, 20a and 21a whose arrangement with relation'toeach other and--with relation to*` pulleys 11 corresponds to the'relation of the pulleys of the first set to each otherand ,y to the pulleys 10. .The pulley 21a`is slightly canted 'A horizontally with respect to theother pulleys of the setto dispose itfin belt-receiving relation to the corner pulley 16. j Y A The belt reach 1a is ltrained from one of' the I pulleys 10, forward beneath the pulley 18,V around the corner'pulley 15 andforward beneath the pulley 18a to one of vthejpulleys`11f.v Thecorner pulley 15 and the pulleys 18 and 18a cooperateto twist said belt reach a vquarter' turn.- *The coin-` panion belt reach 2% is `trained from the other pulley 10 forward beneath the pulley 19, upward over the pulley 20 and downwardunderfthecanted pulley 21, thereby forminga loop 'inthe belt reach permitting it vto Vfbetwisted slightly forl delivery to the canted cornerfpulley =16. From pulley 16 said belt'reach is trained fc'nfwardbe-- neath pulley 21a, upward over pulley 20EIL and downward' under pulley 19a to form another loop` inthe belt enabling it't'o be twisted jbackto .its original plane. The pulleys 10,18 and-19 cof: operate to train the companionbelt reaches forward in a horizontal plane-and parallelto each other. The belt twisting'pulleys twist the reaches to dispose fthem substantially at va lright angle to vsaid plane and maintain them in proper cooperating relation. Between the pulleys-18afand 19ZL and the pulleys A 11' the--beltfreachcs again run parallel to each other in'a'horlzontalplane.'

As shown in Figs; 1, 2 and 4, the trackforming' shield 3 is formed in sections extending valong-the horizontalreaches of the line and terminating at the corner pulleys.` .These ,shield sections are twisted to conform to, the twists ofthe belt reaches 1a and and dispose 'f the I belt'l tracks- 4 flat against the conveyer faces of the belts'. The central ridge 5 of each shield section extends forward from the body of the'v shield as' at 5a and iscurved inward between the pulleysv 15 andfl so that 'its endures within the periprieries ofvsa'id' pulleys.l The adjacent ends ofv the two'A shield' sections may also be formed with prongs l22 to project into the grooves 17 of" the pulleys and vguide a conveyed sheet from the first shield section to the pulleys and from the pulleys to the following shield section. A conveyed sheet is dragged upward along the ascending length of the line which it will be understood also has a track-forming shield. Thencethe sheet is conveyed smoothly; Without.. interruption along the twisted shield section of the first horizontal reach of the line, around the peripheries of the corner pulleys to the second twisted shield section and along the latter toward the discharge point. The

ner pulleys and has one of its tracks canted slightly transversely to conform to the cant of '.the. pulley 16.` The belt tracks 4 are slotted around the pulleys as at 28 leaving narrow strips of the track which are disposed in the grooves 17 of the pulleys. Thevperipheral ridges of the pulleys project through said slots to engage the belts and the conveyed sheets.

-At thebendinJ the conveyer line there is a skeleton'fran'ie structure supporting all of the pulleys at this point. This structure comprises fourrverticalcorner ymembers 24 in rectangular arrangement secured at their upper ends to the ceiling and having Ytheir lower ends connectedy by horizontal members 25. For 'supporting the pulleys 13 there are two horizontal bracket bars 26 mounted upon the vertical frameV members at opposite sides of the frame. Each bar is forked at its ends, as at 27, to straddle the frame members, and the forks have set 'screws 28 to detachablyand adjustably lock the bars to the frame. A horizontal shaft 29V connects said bars andhas its ends detachably joined thereto in any suitable' manner. rMounted upon said 'shaft aretwo hanger blocks 30 forked to straddle the shaft and having set screws 31 to detachablyfand adjustably lock 4Vthem'to the shaft.l Said blocks have de-y pending stub lshafts 32 upon which the pulleys 13 are rotatably mounted. Spacedl below the bars 26-are two similar bracket barsV 33 similarly mounted uponthe `vertical frame members inspaced relation at one side of -the frame, to support the-pulleys 15and 16. Said pulleysare rotatably mounted upon ai-bent shaft 34 having a vertical lower portion for the' pulley 15 andconveyer Vline passes. i This structure comprises" four vertical corner rods 39secured at their upper ends! to theceiling and connected together .at their lower ends by bars 40. Pulleys 18 and19 are "rotatably mounted on a shaftfil and pulleyA 2'0is rotatably vvmounted on a shaft`42.' lEach shaftis boltedfat its end toforkcd blocks 43 which straddle twoof the vertical" frame rods .and are detachably and adjustably secured to the rods by set screwss44. The pulley 21 -is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 45 canted horizontally withy referenceto Y:the first shafts and supportedl at itsv ends by eyebolts 46;v Theshanks of the latter extend through bores in forked blocksv 47 and are adjustably secured by nuts. The blocks 47 straddle two of the'vertical frame bars and are detachably and adjustably secured thereto by set screws 48. The set of pulleys 18a, 19a, 2()a and 21a are similarly supported in a similar frame structure. Each of said frame structures also supports a cross bar 50 to which the shield is secured. All

of the belt twisting pulleys are mounted for adjustment into proper cooperative relation to each other and all are preferably crowned.

What-I claim is:

1. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to dene a corner in the line and comprising a pair of companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; pulleys at said corner in the line and pulleys at opposite sides of the corner cooperating to twist both belts and train them around the corner in transversely spaced relation; and drag track means opposedto the conveyer faces of the belts and extending along said reaches of the line and conforming to the twist of the belts to hold a sheet to both belts for drag conveyance continuously along both reaches of the line.

2. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to denne a corner in the line and comprising a pair of companion conveyer belts to run side-by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; a pair of pulleys mounted side by side at said corner with the axis of one canted with respect to the axis of the other; Atwo sets of pulleys spaced along the line from opposite sides of said corner pulleys `and mounted with their axes in angular relation to theV axes of the corner pulleys-each set including a pair of pulleys directly on the line and a pulley spaced transversely outward from the line to form a loop in one of the belts, one of said loop-forming pulleys on the line being canted with respect to the other to l cooperate with the said canted corner pulley to and means to flex said medial portion of the sheet outward between the belts.

3. A drag belt conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to eachv other to define a corner in the line and comprising a pair of companion conveyer belts to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; a pair of pulleys mounted side by side at said corner with the axis of one canted with respect to the axis of the other; a set of pulleys spaced along the line from said corner pulleysv and mounted with their axes in angular relation and train itaround the-corner in said spaced relation tothe firstv belt; and guiding and retaining means extending along the Ytwisted lengths ofvsaidrbelts and opposed to the conveyer faces thereof to hold an interposed article to both belts for drag conveyance with a medial portion of the article bridgingthe space between the belts.

fl. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to dene a corner in the line and comprising a pair of companion conveyer belts to run side -by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; a pair of pulleys mounted side by side at the corner with the axis of one canted with respect tothe axis of the other; pulleys spaced along the line from said corner pulleys and mounted withy their axes in angular relation to the axes `of thecorner pulleys and cooperable with the latter to twist the belts and train them around the corner in said spaced relation; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along the twisted lengths of said belts and opposed to the conveyer faces thereof to hold an interposed sheet to both belts for drag conveyance with a medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and means to ex said medial portion of the sheet out ofthe plane ofthe belts.

5. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to define a corner in the line and comprising a pair of companion conveyer belts to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; a pair of pulleys mounted side by side at the corner; a set of pulleys spaced along the line from said corner pulleys and mounted with their axes in angular relation to the axes of the corner pulleys and includingpulleys training one of the belts outward and back to the line in a loop and cooperating with one of said corner pulleys to form a twist in the belt and train it around the corner, and a pulley cooperating with the other corner pulley to form a twist in the other belt and train it around the corner in said spaced relation to the iirst belt; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along the twisted lengths of said belts and opposed to the conveyer faces thereof to hold an interposed sheet to both belts for drag conveyance with a medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and means to flex said medial portion of the-sheet out of the plane of the belts.

6. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reachesY disposed at an angle to each other todefine a corner in the line and comprising a pair of .companion conveyer belts to run side by side along the line in transversely spacedY relation; a pair of pulleys mounted side by side at said corner; a set of 'pulleys spaced along the line from said corner pulleys and mounted with their axes in angular relation to the axes of the corner pulleys the set including a pair of pulleys directly onv the line and a pulley spaced transversely outward from the line to form a loop in one of the belts, one of said loop-forniing pulleys on the line being canted with respect to the other to cooperate with one of said corner pulleys to form a twist in the belt and train it around the corner; and a pulley cooperating with the other corner pulley to form a twist in the other belt and train it around the corner in said 145 spaced relation to the first belt; sheet-guiding and retaining means extending along the twisted lengths of said belts and opposed to the conveyer faces thereof to hold an interposed sheet to both beltsfor dragiconveyance with a'medial portion 159 to t of the sheet bridging the space between the belts;

and means to flex said medial portion of the sheet outward between the belts.

7. A drag belt sheet yconveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to denne a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of companion conveyer belts to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; pulleys spaced along `the line from said corner; belt-training means at said corner cooperating withl said pulleys to twist the belts and train them around the corner in said spaced relation; sheet' guiding and retaining means extending along thetwisted lengths ofV the belts to hold an interposed sheet to both belts for drag conveyance; and means extending between the belts and along the twisted lengths thereof to ex the sheet outward between the belts. i

8. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to deine a corner in the line and comprising a pair of companionconveyer belts trained to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; pulleys at said corner in the line and pulleys atopposite sides of the corner and canted with respect to said corner pulleys and cooperating therewith to twist both belts and train them around the corner in transversely spaced relation; and drag tracks opposed to the conveyer faces of the belts and extending along said reaches of the line and conforming to the twist of the belts to hold a sheet to both belts for drag conveyance continuously along both reaches of the line. Y

9. A drag belt sheet conveyer line havingtwo continuous linereachesv disposed atan angle to each other to denne a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of pulleys mounted side by side in said corner with their axes canted relatively to each other; means forming a plurality of side by side drag tracks extending along the line and around the corner over the peripheries of said pulleys and relatively canted at the corner to conform to the cant of the pulleys; a plurality of conveyer belts to run side by side in transversely spaced relation along said tracksv with a medial portion of the sheet bridging the space betweenthe belts; and a rib betweenrsaid tracks and extending around the corner to Yflex said medial portion of the sheet between the belts, the tracks having slots extending around the corner and the pulleys having peripheral portions protruding through said slots to engage the belts. i

10. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed atan angle'to each other to dene a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of pulleys mounted side by side A. in said corner; means forming a plurality of side by side drag tracks extendingalong the line and around the corner over the peripheries of said pulleys; a plurality of conveyer belts to run side by side in transversely spaced relation along said tracks with a medial portion of the sheet bridg ing the space between the belts; and a rib between` said tracks and extending around the corner to.

to run side byr side in the same direction in trans-k versely spaced relation; a set of pulleys to train one of said belts including a; pair of f pulleys mounted directlyon the line and a pulley mounted in a position spaced transversely outward from the line, rsaid pulleys training the belt in a loop at an intermediate point in the line and one of said pulleys on the line being in acanted position with respect to the other, for the purpose set forth; sheet guiding and Aretaining means extending along the line and opposed torthe conveyer faces of thebelts to hold an interposed sheet to both belts for drag conveyance along the line with a medial portion of the sheetbridging the space between the belts;v and means to flex said medial portion of the sheet.

1,2. A drag belt conveyer line comprising a conveyer belt extending along the line; a set of p ulleystraining said belt and including a pair of pulleys mounted directly'on VVthe line and a pulley mounted ina position spaced transversely outward from the line and cooperating with said pair of pulleysftoi form a loopin-the belt at an intermediate point in the line, one pulley of said pair being canted with respect to the other, for the purpose set forth; and means forming a drag track extending along the line and opposed to the conveyer face of the belt.

13. A belt conveyer line having two `continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to eachother to define a corner in the line and comprising a pair of campanion cooperative conveyer belts to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; a pair of pulleys mounted side by side at said corner, with the axis of one canted with respect to the axis of the-other; two sets of pulleys spaced along the line from opposite sides of said corner pulleys and mounted with their axes in angular relation to the axes of the corner pulleys, each set including a pair of pulleys directly on the line and a pulley spaced transversely outward from the line to form a loop in one of the belts, one of said loop-forming pulleys on the line being canted with respect tothe other to cooperate with the said canted corner `pulley to form-a twist in the belt and train it around the corner, and a pulley cooperating with the other corner pulley to form a twist in the other belt and train it around the corner in said spaced relation to the rst belt; and means extendingl along said belts and opposedthereto to hold an article to both belts for continuous conveyance along the line reaches in succession.

14. A belt conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at anangle to each other to denne a corner in the line and comprising a pair of companion cooperatingconveyer belts to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation and convey an article by engagement of both belts therewith; a pair of pulleys mounted side by side at said corner with the axis of one canted with respect to the axis of the other; and two sets of pulleys spaced along the line from opposite sides of said corner pulleys and mounted with their axes in angular relation to the axes of the corner pulleys, each set including a pair of pulleys directly on the line and a pulley spaced transversely outward from the line to form a loop in one of the belts, one of said loop-forming pulleys on the line being canted with respect to the other to cooperatewithrthe said canted corner pulley to form a twist in the belt and train it around the corner, and a pulley cooperating with the other corner pulley to form a twist inthe other belt and train it varound the corner in said spaced relation tothe first belt.

15. A beltconveyer line having twoklsontinul ly spaced relation;

ous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other todene a corner in the line' and comprising a pair of companion conveyer belts to run side by side along the line in transversely spaced relation; a paii of pulleys mounted side by side at the corner; a set of pulleys spaced alongthe line from said corner pulleys and mounted with their axes in angular relation to the axes of the corner pulleys and including pulleys training one 0f the belts outward and back to the line in a loop and cooperating with one of said corner pulleys to form a twist in the belt and train it around the corner, and a pulley cooperating with the' other corner pulley to form a twist in the other belt and train it around the corner in said spaced relation to the first belt; and means extending along the twisted lengths of said belts and opposed to the conveyer faces thereof to hold an article to both belts forconveyance.

16. Aconveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to dene a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of. companion conveyer belts running side by side along both of said line reaches in transversecooperating belt training means at said corner and at opposite sides of the corner training said companion belts to run in substantially the 'same plane along both line reaches and twisting the belts out of said plane to train them around the corner in transversely spaced relation; and means opposed to said belts and extending therealong to hold an article to both belts for conveyance continuously along both reaches of the line.

17. A drag belt conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to dene a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of companion drag conveyer belts running side by side along both of said line reaches in transverselyv spaced relation; cooperating belt training means at said corner and at opposite sides of the corner training said companion belts to run in substantially the same plane along both line reaches and twisting the belts out of said plane to train them around the corner; and drag track means opposed to said belts and extending therealong to hold an article to both belts for drag conveyance continuously along both reaches of the line.

18. A conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to define a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of substantially flat companion cooperating conveyer belts trained to run side by side along said line reaches in transversely spaced realtion and in substantially the same plane to convey an article by engagement of both belts therewith; belt training means at said corner in the line; and belt training means on said reaches of the line at opposite sides of the corner and cooperative with said training means at the corner to twist the companion belts and train them to run around the corner in said transversely spaced side by side cooperating conveying relation without flexure of the belts in the plane thereof.

19. A conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to define a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of substantially ilat companion cooperating conveyer f belts trained to run side by side along said line reaches in transversely spaced relation and in substantially the same plane to convey an article by engagement of both belts therewith; belt training Ameans at said corner in the line; and belt training -means on said reaches of the line at opposite sides of the corner and cooperative with said training means at the corner to twist the companion belts and train them to run around the corner in said transversely spaced side by side cooperating conveying relation without lateral ilexure of the belts in the plane thereof, said belt training means at the corner and on the line reaches comprising pulleys, and the belt training means on the line reaches including pulleys mounted with their axes canted with relation to the corner pulley means.

20` A conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to define a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of substantially flat companion cooperating conveyer belts trained to run side by side along said line reaches in transversely spaced relation and in substantially the same plane; belt training means at said corner in the line, and belt training means on said reaches of the line at opposite sides of the corner and cooperative with said training means atthe corner` to twist the companion belts and train them to run around the corner in said transversely spaced side by side conveying relation without lateral flexure of the belts in the plane thereof; and means extending along said belts and opposed thereto to hold an article to both belts for continuous conveyance along one reach of the line, around the corner and along the other reach of the line.

2l. A drag conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to denne a corner in the line and comprising a plurality ofl substantially flat companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side along said line reaches in transversely spaced relation and vin substantially the same plane; belt training means at said corner in the line; belt training means on said reaches of the line at opposite sides of the' cornerand cooperative Ywith said training means at the corner to twist the companion belts and train them to run around the corner in said transversely spaced side by side conveying relation Without lateral flexure of the belts in the plane thereof; and drag track means extending along said belts and opposed thereto to hold an article to both belts for continuous drag conveyance along one reach of the line, around the corner and along the other reach of the line.

22. A drag belt sheet conveyer line having two continuous line reaches disposed at an angle to each other to dene a corner in the line and comprising a plurality of substantially flat companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side along said line reaches in transversely spaced relation and in substantially the same plane; belt training means at said corner in the line; and belt training means on said reaches of the line at opposite sides of the corner and cooperative with said training means at the corner to twist the companion belts and train them to run around the corner in said transversely spaced side by side conveying relation without lateral flexure of the belts in the plane thereof; drag track means extending along said belts and opposed theretol to hold a sheet to the belts for continuous conveyance along one reach of the line, around the corner and along the other reach of the line with the medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and sheet flexing means extending along the line to flex said medial portion of the sheet out of the plane of the belts.

23. A belt conveyer line having two line reaches disposed in substantially the same plane and at an angle to each other to define a corner in the FSL line and comprising'a'pair of substantially flat companion cooperating conveyer belts trained to run side by side along both of said line reaches and substantially in said plane; 4belt training means including pulleys mounted with their axes in canted relation to each other to twist said companion belts and train them around said corner of the line in side by side cooperating conveying relation without lilexure of the belts in the plane thereof; and means extending along said belts and opposed thereto to hold an article to both belts for continuous conveyance along the line reaches in succession.

24. A belt conveyer line having two line reaches disposed in substantially the same plane and at an angle to each other to define a corner `in the line and comprising a plurality of substantially flat companion cooperating conveyer belts trained to run side by side along bothv of said line reaches and substantially in said plane; and belt training means including pulleys mounted with their axes in canted relation to each other to twist said companion belts and train them around said corner of the line in side by side cooperating conveying relation Without ilexure of the belts in the plane thereof.

25. A belt conveyer line having two line reaches disposed in substantially the same plane and at an angle to each other to define a corner inthe line and comprising a plurality of substantially flat companion cooperating conveyer belts trained to run side by side along both of said line reaches and substantially in said plane; belt training means including pulleys mounted with their axes in canted relation to each other to twist said companion belts and train them around said corner of the line in side by side cooperating conveying relation without ilexure of the belts in the plane thereof; and means to relatively adjust said .y pulleys into `accurate cooperating belt training relation.

26. A conveyer line comprising a pair of companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side along the line; a set of pulleys to train one of said belts including a pair of pulleys mounted directly on thefline Vand a pulley mounted in a position spaced transversely outward from the line, said pulleys training the belt in va loop at anl intermediate point in the line and one of said pulleys on the line being canted with respect to the other for the purpose set forth; and means opposed to the belts and extending therealong-to hold an article to both belts for conveyance.

27. A conveyer line comprising a conveyer belt extending along the line; a set of pulleys training said belt and including a pair of pulleys mounted directly .on the lineand a pulley mountedina position spaced transversely outward fromthe line and cooperating with said pair of pulleys to form a` loop in the belt at an intermediate point in the line', one pulley of said pair being canted with respect'to the other, for the purpose set forth; and means opposed to the belt and ex-v tending therealong to hold articles thereto for conveyance.

28. A conveyer line comprising a substantially flat conveyer belt extending along the line; a set of pulleys training said belt and including a pair of pulleys mounted directly on the line and a pulley mounted in a position spaced transversely outward from the line and cooperating with said pair ofv pulleys to form a loop in the belt'at an intermediate point in the line, one pulley of said pair being canted with respect to the other, for. the purpose set forth and the other pulley of the pair and said outwardly spaced pulley having their axes parallel; and` means opposed to the belt and extending therealong to hold articles thereto for conveyance.

WALTER J. MANN. 

